The Jagaroth had very advanced technology, capable of human disguises and holographic technology. They also had access to advanced knowledge and impressive intellect. Scaroth was able to fool the humans and advance humanity to the proper technology level using his wits and knowledge. Though they knew the concepts of time travel, they did not have the technology level. (TV: City of Death)

In his fourth incarnation, the Doctor described the Jagaroth as "a vicious, callous, war-like race". At some point in the distant past, the Jagaroth were involved in a war which nearly wiped out the species. Despite this, some of the Jagaroth were able to make it to the primordial Earth, four hundred million years prior to the 20th century. Finding it unsuitable for habitation, they planned to leave the planet. However, their atmospheric thrust motors were damaged and inoperable, and they decided to take off using their warp-drive, against the advice of Scaroth, their warp-field operator. The attempt to do so deep failed, and the ship exploded. The massive burst of radiation generated by this explosion catalysed the development of life on Earth. it also propelled Scaroth into the Time Vortex, where he splintered into twelve incomplete aspects of himself, each trapped at different points in the timeline of Earth. These aspects of Scaroth pushed forward the development of humanity, so that technology sufficiently advanced for time travel could be created and he could return to save his people. He was eventually able to travel back in time to the moment of his ship's explosion, and attempted to prevent his earlier self from pushing the button that lead to the explosion. He was stopped by the Fourth Doctor, Romana II, and Duggan, allowing the creation of life on Earth, and bringing about the end of the Jagaroth. (TV: City of Death)